Merry Making

"It's coming on Christmas. They're cutting down trees. They're putting up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace." - Joni Mitchell

We bought the tree and all the lights are on. We'll get it trimmed later tonight. A small portion of the house is decorated. I've brought out the Christmas dishes and the Christmas cds. I'm a little late. Seems like I should have been doing this weeks ago and here I'm just getting started.

I love Christmas. I love all the craziness, the shopping, the decorating, the cooking, the snow - if we're lucky.  If I choose to, I can make all of that stressful. But long ago I decided that what I need to focus on is actually enjoying and reflecting on the holiday, slowing down, taking time for myself and being with family and friends, doing the things I love the most around this time -  making things, baking a little, listening to music, not worrying about buying gazillions of presents or finding the perfect ones and just stressing out in general about the small stuff. If something doesn't get done, then it doesn't get done. 

Do you get the bug to make things right before Christmas? It's a good way to de-stress and get into the holiday spirit. Try a little simple stitching. This is a Gail Pan design from her book Christmas Patchwork Loves Embroidery. It's a sweet little book full of Christmas projects.

Here's my wool tree skirt for a mini tree. The pattern is on my website. I've got some other cute Christmas things there and in my Etsy shop .

How about a simple little present pincushion? Free pattern on my website.

Making things is good. Helps you slow down and enjoy the holiday a little bit.

Have you made any little trees yet? EVERYONE seems to be making these. There's a free paper-pieced pattern in Files in my Facebook group and I think it's also on my website. There's another one using flying geese.

"It's coming on Christmas, I'm cutting up trees . . . "

I often put things off until the last minute and then usually stay up late at night the week before Christmas, struggling to finish last minute things. Sometimes that's part of the fun. The house is quiet and I can relax and sew. These trees don't take long at all. 

                 
If you're new to my blog and haven't seen my little redwork stitcheries, try visiting my website (link above) or my Etsy shop for the pattern. They're also pretty quick. 

Merry Making!